Sign: More

According to Nancy Cadjan, President of signbabies.com, a line of books, seminars, DVDs, games and flash cards that advocate baby sign language, babies are developmentally ready for their parents to start signing to them after 4 months old, but won't be able to sign back until 7-9 months, when they have better coordination.

Sign: Done

This sign will help babies transition from one activity to the next. It also helps Mommy explain that something is all gone.

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Sign: Sleep

Signing to baby that it's time to sleep is a good way to start the bedtime routine. Even better: when she lets you know she's tired by using the sign.

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Sign: Medicine

This sign comes into handy when babies are teething and want to tell you they want medicine to ease their pain.

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Sign: Eat

Stay consistent with your signs. Use them frequently—every time you engage in the activity or say the word. When you're eating, use the "eat" sign and say, "We're going to EAT. Do you want to EAT? Let's EAT another bite of cereal."

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Sign: Milk

When signing, remember that context is important. Sign "milk" while feeding your baby a bottle or while nursing—not when you're doing other things.

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Sign: Change

"Change" is an important sign because it gives your baby a heads up that you're transitioning from play to diapering—something he probably won't want to do. Signing "change" will help them understand the toy break is temporary. When you're done, sign "done" and say, "We are DONE," so that your baby knows changing time is over. According to Cadjan, many parents report that when they use the "change" and "done" signs, the struggle of diaper time goes away.

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Sign: Help

Should you step in to help, or let baby figure things out on his own? This will let him communicate when he needs your aid—or that he wants to help you.

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Sign: Bath

Teach your baby words he'll be able to practice often, like "bath," since you do it every day.

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Sign: Play

Don't worry about teaching all the signs at once; just choose a few to start. When you think your baby is getting the hang of it and signing back, you can slowly add more signs to his repertoire.

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Sign: Banana

Teaching your baby signs for foods can help you get an idea of his favorites. "Banana," a common first food, is a good one to try.

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Sign: Water

Don't expect the signs to look perfect. Babies might do the signs a bit differently, since their fine motor skills are not as advanced as yours are. If you think your baby is trying to sign something, help her out. Say, "Oh! Are you signing WATER? Do you want some WATER?" and continue to make the sign correctly.

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Sign: Book

Foster an early love of reading with the simple sign for "book."

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Sign: Dog

Many signs are easy to remember since they mimic a motion you might already be using. Patting your leg to call a dog is instinctive, making this sign feel very natural.

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Sign: Cat

Maintain eye contact whenever you sign to make sure your baby sees your hands clearly. This is key to helping her make the connection between the sign and the word.

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Sign: Share

Be patient—and don't pay compare your baby to the champion signer at music class. It takes some babies longer than others to have the dexterity to sign, but keep at it.

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Sign: Bread

Some babies will grunt or pant when their parents sign, others will laugh or smile—all are indications that your baby is receptive to your communication.

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Sign: Ball

Don't set aside time to sign, just incorporate it into your day, keeping it simple and fun.

Sign: Please

Sign: Thank You

Baby sign language proponents say that signs not only help your child communicate with your earlier and more easily, it also helps them speak sooner too.

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Sign: Apple

Your signing vocabulary can grow with your baby's interests, so that she'll more easily (and gladly) make the connection. For example, if you notice she likes books with animals, teach her words like "dog" and "bird." If she likes apples, teach her this sign.